The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has expanded its services to better assist students in their career paths and help them land quality jobs.

In discussions following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez, TESDA director general, said the assistance would make career progression clearer and easier for students.

“Simula pa lang sa senior high school hanggang kolehiyo, dapat malinaw ang mga options nila. Wala ho sanang pangarap ng batang Pilipino na hindi mahahanapan ng paraan,” Benitez said Wednesday.

In his SONA on Monday, President Marcos announced that TESDA’s technical vocational education and training programs will be introduced in senior high school to give students the choice which field to enter after graduation.

Benitez said TESDA is also implementing continuous assessment, where senior high school students can be granted certifications for their skills and knowledge.

In the past year, some 175,000 high school graduates were given National Certification Levels II (NC2) and III (NC3) certificates, Benitez said.

Four out of five companies are willing to hire senior high school students with such credentials, Benitez said, citing recent business and industry surveys.

TESDA is also creating higher-level NCs for more evident career progression, Benitez said.

TESDA is also converging its registry and training with the Department of Labor and Employment’s web-based job-matching portal, PhilJobNet, Benitez said.

On President Marcos’ orders, TESDA’s services will also be incorporated into the eGovPH super app soon, Benitez said. | PND